Report: Brooklyn Nets to Hire Kenny Atkinson as Head Coach

The Brooklyn Nets are hiring Kenny Atkinson—a top assistant for the Atlanta Hawks—as their next head coach, according to a report. The Nets went 21-61 this season, finishing ahead of only the lowly Sixers in the Eastern Conference standings. From Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical:

Atlanta Hawks assistant Kenny Atkinson has agreed to a multi-year deal to become head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, league sources told The Vertical.

The Nets are expected to make a formal announcement as soon as Sunday.

Nets general manager Sean Marks met with several candidates in recent weeks, but had long targeted Atkinson for the Nets job, sources said. Negotiations took place over the past several days and culminated with an agreement this weekend.

Atkinson, 48, will finish out the playoffs with Atlanta, where he has been Mike Budenholzer’s top assistant coach for the past two years. Atkinson has been considered one of the most, if not the most, prepared NBA assistants to ascend into a head-coaching job.